Franchising FAQ
How do I find out if I qualify?
Fill out the brief Confidential Questionnaire. In addition for management skills and a strong culture fit, we look for liquid capital of $150,000 available and a net worth of $500,000. You can also call 720.797.6671.
How much does it cost to open a Hounds Town USA?
The average initial investment to open a Hounds Town USA is between $265,800 – $492,500. This is significantly lower than other major doggy daycare franchise companies.
How do you keep your buildout costs so low compared to other doggie daycares?
Most other systems are so expensive for three reasons:
1) They are building more intricate retail and product displays
2) They are making Franchise Owners use prefabricated kennels and other structures that cost thousands of dollars each, and
3) The franchise is charging a significant fee for the initial build-out. We do not do any of these things.
The materials we use, coupled with the basic layout and minimal build out requirements, make it very cost-effective. For example, we do not require Franchise Owners to use prefabricated kennels that cost thousands of dollars each; instead they are built using 2x4s, PVC, and materials that can be found at Home Depot, for much less of a cost. Our fencing system for play groups is also built using PVC. Our layout, just like our business model, is very simple.
How much can I make?
We are proud of our industry-leading unit economics and look forward to discussing those with you.
The average gross revenue for Hounds Town USA was $893,531 in 2019.
Complete our brief, Confidential Questionnaire HERE. Afterwards, if you qualify to move forward in the process, you will get access to our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which contains detailed financial statements and performance of our Franchise Owners.
What is the Hounds Town USA franchise fee?
$45,000 for a single unit, which is included in the total initial investment range. We also offer discounted multi-unit franchise fees to select candidates.
Learn more about the initial investment and startup costs HERE.
How do I find real estate for my new Hounds Town USA location?
During the process, the real estate Team guides you through site surveys, helps with letters of intent for landlords, and helps negotiate the lease to get the best deal for you.
Once you’ve got your location, our construction team will get started with a design layout and our founder, Mike, will do a final walkthrough of the site to make sure you’re set up to succeed right out of the gate.
What kind of franchise owner support is provided?
We provide support on every aspect of the business. Initially we assist with site selection/real estate and construction/buildout. We then help you with hiring, dog management, business, and marketing so you are well-prepared to serve the customers lining up at your door on Opening Day:
- Real estate selection
- Construction
- Initial training
- Ongoing operational support
- Marketing support
- Accounting and financial coaching
- Annual meetings
- Periodic site visits
Find out more about our Franchise Support Team HERE.
How involved do I need to be in the day-to-day operations of running a Hounds Town location?
Additionally, a number of our Franchise Owners continue to work at their full-time careers after investing in a Hounds Town franchise. Our Semi-Absentee model gives these individuals the ability to pursue their personal passions and maintain a healthy work-life balance while successfully overseeing their investment.
It typically takes new Franchise Owners about 3-4 months to get a General Manager up and running, and then they can scale back to a Semi-Absentee Role. Semi-Absentee Owners typically work about 2-3 hours per day remotely and are required to hire a General Manager to handle daily operations at their Hounds Town location.
Where do Hounds Town locations work best?
Hounds Town thrives in industrial, light industrial, or commercial areas within 5-7 minutes of main roadways. Our core customer demographics are people traveling toward city centers to go to work and dropping their dog off on the way.
What is the percentage breakdown for the doggie daycare / overnight boarding / grooming/ retail / pet taxi revenue streams?
How is Hounds Town able to allow all ages, sizes, and breeds of dogs and still ensure that they won't have issues with other dogs?
Our founder, Mike Gould, is a canine behavior expert, one of the founding members of NYPD’s K-9 program, and has over 40 years of experience, honing an approach that is deeply rooted in his understanding of dog psychology and pet behavior.
Are there ongoing fees?
The local ad fee toward marketing efforts and other expenses incurred to promote the brand for the benefit of all. Franchise Owners will receive extensive marketing support from our team of experts for the entire time they are an Owner. This includes location-specific digital marketing and social media marketing to help your business grow.
How long will it take to get my first store open?
How many employees will I need to run my location?
Each shift consists of 1 shift leader and 1-2 kennel attendants. We aim for a 15:1 dog-to-human ratio so we can staff appropriately and keep payroll low.
Do I need prior experience with dogs?
Our Franchise Owners reap the benefits of this experience with in-depth training, where you will learn all you need to know about working with dogs and running your location successfully.
What skill sets or traits do I need to own a Hounds Town USA franchise?
The business model helps people of all kinds of backgrounds be successful! You don’t need a heavy business background or a background with dog training. But we find the most successful Franchise Owners:
- Love to have fun and don’t take themselves too seriously
- Do have at least some kind of background in sales or management
- Enjoy interacting with people every day
- Are passionate about making an impact on their community
I don't know anything about construction. How does the construction process go?
How much marketing experience do I need?
Do I need dog training or handling experience?
Our proprietary methods developed by canine expert and Hounds Town USA Founder Mike Gould provide Franchise Owners the necessary tools and skills so dogs can play in a safe and natural pack environment.
I have never run a business before, will that be a challenge?
Our model is driven by processes and methods that we’ve perfected over 20 years of running a doggie daycare and overnight boarding facility, combined with Mike’s 40-plus years of canine management experience. We will teach you everything you need to know in order to successfully run your Hounds Town business. When YOU succeed, WE succeed!
What will my average day look like?
You will usually be present at the store 6-8 hours per day initially. You will be interacting with customers, using the POS system and overseeing your staff, who will be taking care of all dog needs such as grouping, feeding and grooming.
As a Semi-Absentee Owner you will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the business. You will hire and manage staff, schedule employees, manage payroll, oversee marketing and social media and order supplies, but will not necessarily be in the location everyday to accomplish these tasks.
How does your marketing team help Franchise Owners attract new customers?
For starters, we have national brand recognition and a great reputation — a huge advantage of opening a franchise vs. your own small business.
Our dedicated Brand Director, Corey Packer, works with Franchise Owners to set up and run all social media pages so customers have up-to-the-minute information on their favorite Hounds Town location. Corey also assists Franchise Owners with generating new business and retaining existing customers through the following channels:
- Brand awareness marketing campaign 6 months prior to opening
- Using paid ads, local and organic SEO, and local advertising in your community
- Creating branded content daily
- Overseeing public relations
- Hosting dog-related content from our podcast, Dish on Dogs
How has COVID-19 impacted business at existing Hounds Town locations?
This overwhelming demand is for a few reasons:
1.) Many people adopted puppies during COVID-19
2.) The work-from-home culture that many of our customers had to adopt following COVID-19 shutdowns has shed light on how much exercise and attention dogs need during the day. For customers who are having a hard time getting work done with their fur kids at home, Hounds Town is a perfect solution!
Do I need to be a dog fanatic to own a Hounds Town USA franchise?
How can I be sure my territory is protected against another Hounds Town franchise being built in the same region?
How are Hounds Town USA locations set up?
The town-themed facades are also fun, recognizable, and add to the warm feeling of Hounds Town USA (compared to cold, unappealing kennels).
Do you require an outdoor space? If so, how large is the outdoor space?
I am passionate about the welfare of animals, especially dogs, and want to use my business as a platform for advocacy and awareness in my community. Will Hounds Town allow me to achieve this goal?
Our Fresh Air Fund sponsors shelter pets in a free, open environment where they can run and play to their hearts’ content. We are always looking for like-minded people who can help us bring awareness to pet welfare issues in their neighborhoods.
Other than daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, and pet taxi, are there any additional revenue streams I can add to my Hounds Town location?
What are the backgrounds of some of your most successful Owners?
What do your temperament evaluations look like?
The evaluation process sounds like a big grandiose affair, but it’s actually pretty simple. A trained member of the staff will introduce the customer’s dog to one of our resident dogs to ensure he/she is ready to play and a good fit for our interactive environment. These evaluations are done at no cost and scheduled in 30-minute time slots (but this usually takes less than a minute). We just want to ensure the dog doesn’t show any overt signs of aggression. This is all taught during training. Example video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvgqG7IruBA
How many dogs can a typical Hounds Town USA location handle?
How many dogs that get evaluations become Hounds Town customers?
What is the difference between Hounds Town USA and mom & pop doggie daycares?
What are your staffed hours?
We close daily from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. for a shift change and to save on unnecessary labor costs. We do not require employees to be there overnight as the dogs are sleeping and we have security cameras. It is just unnecessary.
Do you have to have someone be at the facility at night to watch the dogs sleeping?

FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY
Want to find out if your territory is available and get a quick understanding of your eligibility to potentially own a Hounds Town USA?
Simply complete our Franchise Ownership Questionnaire. There is no obligation and no cost involved and it takes about 5 minutes to complete.
If you qualify to start our education process, you’ll get access to:

Our Franchise Development Director to personally guide you through our Education Process and answer any questions you have about owning a Hounds Town USA Franchise.

Our Franchise Disclosure Document: 40 pages of the important stuff!

More Detailed Financials including historical sales performance of all our locations

The Hounds Town Franchise Owners! You’ll be able to hear directly from the Franchise Owners more about how they made the decision to own their own Hounds Town USA locations.
Once we’ve reviewed your completed application, we will be in touch immediately after to start unlocking the steps above!